-LRB- CNN -RRB- The Mormon church has excommunicated a popular podcaster , saying his public dissents from the religion 's core beliefs have led others away from the church .

John Dehlin , founder of the podcast `` Mormon Stories , '' describes himself as an `` unorthodox '' Mormon whose church roots reach back five generations . Under Tuesday 's penalty , however , Dehlin may not participate in church sacraments for at least one year . He has the right to appeal the decision .

Dehlin is the second Mormon to be excommunicated in the past year , following Kate Kelly , who was kicked out last June for pushing the church to admit women to its all-male priesthood .

Tuesday 's excommunication was announced in a letter to Dehlin from Brian King , the stake president , or local church leader , in North Logan , Utah .

King said that Dehlin was not excommunicated for criticizing the church , which he has openly admitted to , but for denying core Mormon doctrines . The church has concluded that Dehlin 's views on the following amount to apostasy :

-- Questioning the nature of God and divinity of Christ ;

-- Calling the Book of Mormon and Book of Abraham , two central texts , fraudulent ;

-- Teaching that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , the Mormon church 's official name , is not the `` true church with power and authority from God . ''

`` You have spread these teachings widely via the Internet to hundreds of people in the past and have shared with me , in previous correspondence , that you will continue to do so , '' King wrote to Dehlin in a letter dated February 9 .

Dehlin has said that he suspects his support for female ordination and same-sex marriage , both of which Mormon leaders oppose , was behind the effort to excommunicate him .

In a statement on Tuesday , Dehlin said : `` My wife , Margi , and I are proud to stand in support of both free expression and gender/marriage equality within Mormonism . While we are saddened that the LDS Church has chosen to excommunicate me for publicly supporting these values , we support the church 's right to make this decision . ''

King and Mormon church spokesmen say that 's not true .

`` Church disciplinary trials are usually kept private , but when the member has chosen to air their grievances in public , the Church reserves the right to correct the public record , '' Mormon leaders said in a statement .

`` Church discipline is not designed to be the end of the process , '' church spokesmen said , `` but the beginning of the road back to full fellowship . ''

Dehlin , who has run the Mormon Stories podcast and a related website for about a decade , told NPR that he stopped attending church last year .

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John Dehlin calls himself an `` unorthodox Mormon ''

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Mormon leaders say Dehlin has led others away from the church